
Episode 376: A Needed Conversation (Leadership)
From The Smart Thinking Podcast by Ted Neitzke IV
April 26, 2026 · 1h 26m · Episode 377
About this episode
Ted Neitzke IV revisits a conversation with motivational figure Greg Harden, discussing mental resilience and emotional control.
On this episode Ted revisits his favorite conversation with Greg Harden. Greg Harden was a legendary motivational figure and peak performance coach, best known for his influential work as an administrator and counselor at the University of Michigan. Often described as a "secret weapon" for elite athletes, he played a pivotal role in the mental development of stars like Tom Brady, Michael Phelps, and Desmond Howard. Through his coaching, Harden specialized in teaching individuals how to master their own emotions and build the mental resilience necessary to succeed both in sports and in life. Greg's book: Stay Sane in an Insane World: How to Control the Controllables and Thrive - is one of the ten reads for Smart Thinkers!
People in this episode
Host: Ted Neitzke IV
Guest: Greg Harden
Topics covered
- leadership
- motivation
- mental resilience
- peak performance
- emotional control
Keywords
- leadership
- motivation
- Greg Harden
- mental resilience
- Tom Brady
- Michael Phelps
- Desmond Howard
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: University of Michigan
Books & works: Stay Sane in an Insane World: How to Control the Controllables and Thrive
More episodes of The Smart Thinking Podcast
- Episode 381: Your Improvement: Books for Summer & Life · June 7, 2026 · 33 min
- Episode 380: Generationally Diverse Teams (Leadership and Game) · May 31, 2026 · 31 min
- Episode 379: A Conversation with a Mental Strength Expert and Author: Amy Morin · May 25, 2026 · 1h 10m
- Episode 378: Campfire Conversations Elevate: A Process to End the School Year or Journey · May 17, 2026 · 31 min
- Episode 377: Engagement and Strengths - A Conversation with Emily Lorenz and Tim Hodges (Leadership) · May 3, 2026 · 1h 30m
- Episode 375: The Danger of Assumptions in Your Culture: The WHAT Principle · April 19, 2026 · 32 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Smart Thinking Podcast podcast page.